Pages

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

CASA / IPTN CN-235

CN-235

The CASA/IPTN CN-235 is a medium-range twin-engined transport plane that was jointly developed by CASA of Spain and IPTN of Indonesia as a regional airliner and military transport. Its primary military roles include maritime patrol, surveillance, and air transport. Its largest user is Turkey which has 61 SV-235 aircraft.

Design and development

The project was a joint venture between CASA and Indonesian manufacturer IPTN, which formed Airtech company to manage the programme. The partnership applied only to the Series 10 and Series 100/110, with later versions being developed independently. Over 230 of all versions of CN-235 are in service and have accumulated more than 500,000 flight hours.

Design began in January 1980 with first flight on 11 November 1983. Spanish and Indonesian certification was on 20 June 1986; the first flight of the production aircraft was on 19 August 1986 and FAA type approval was granted on 3 December 1986. The aircraft entered service on 1 March 1988

In 1995, CASA launched development of a stretched CN-235 as the C-295. In December 2002, the Columbian Navy ordered two CN-235 for patrol and anti-drug trafficking missions.

In April 2005, Venezuela ordered two CN-235 maritime surveillance aircraft plus 10 transport planes but the operation was halted due the United States refuse to allow US technology to be transferred.

In January 2006, Thailand placed an order with Dirgantara for ten aircraft, six for the Ministry of Defence and four for the Ministry of Agriculture.

In December 2007, Spain ordered two CN-235 maritime patrol aircraft for the Guardia Civil, for delivery 2008–2009.

One CN-235 MPA aircraft was delivered by Dirgantara to the Indonesian defence ministry in June 2008.

The CN-235 was selected by the United States Coast Guard for its Medium Range Surveillance Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MRSMPA) program, for which 36 are being bought to replace the HU-25 Guardian business-style jets of the Coast Guard. These are designated the HC-144A Ocean Sentry . The first HC-144A was delivered by EADS CASA to Lockheed Martin for installation of its mission equipment in December 2006. The HC-144A achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) on April 2, 2009. Eight HC-144As had been delivered to the Coast Guard as of July 1, 2009.

In August 2006, three CASA CN-235-10 aircraft remain in airline service, in Africa, with Safair (two) and Tiko Air (one). Asian Spirit operates a lone CN-235-220 in the Philippines, correct as of June/July 2007.

The Irish Air Corps operates two CASA aircraft for maritime patrol duty.

There are at least two CN-235s flying with the United States Air Force for an undisclosed role with the 427th Special Operations Squadron, located at the former Pope AFB, North Carolina.

In early July 2008, The Mexican Navy announced that it will purchase six CASA CN-235s from Spain. In April 2010, Hervé Morin, French Minister of Defence, announced the order of eight CN-235-300s from Spain.

Variants

CN-235-10 Initial production version (15 built by each company), with GE CT7-7A engines.

CN-235-100/110 Generally as series 10, but with GE CT7-9C engines in new composites nacelles; replaced Series 10 in 1988 from 31st production aircraft. Series 100 is Spanish-built, series 110 Indonesian-built, with improved electrical, warning and environmental systems.

CN-235-300 CASA Modification of 200/220 series, with the Honeywell International Corp. avionics suite. Other features include improved pressurisation and provision for optional twin-nosewheel installation.

CN-235-330 Phoenix Modification of Series 200/220, offered by IPTN with new Honeywell avionics, ARL-2002 EW system and 16.800 kg/37.037 lb MTOW, to Royal Australian Air Force to meet Project Air 5190 tactical airlift requirement, but was forced by financial constraints to withdraw in 1998.

CN-235 MPA Maritime patrol version

HC-144 Ocean Sentry United States Coast Guard designation for a small number of aircraft bought to replace the small HU-25 Guardian business-style jets.

Operators

Military Operators

Austria* Austrian Air Force

Botswana* Botswana Air Force

Bophuthatswana* Bophuthatswana Air Force (1 incorporated into South African Air Force)

SpainBinter Canarias and Binter Mediterraneo, both subsidiaries of Iberia, operated four and five respectively from 1989 to 1997

Argentina ,Inter Austral airlines, a subsidiary of Austral Líneas Aéreas, was later integrated into Aerolineas Argentinas, one ex-Binter.

South AfricaSafair Aviation Streamline group, which operates from Pretoria , South Africa , has two CN-235s,

MadagascarTiko Air had one (C012),

United StatesFlight International and Flight Turbo AC with one eachL-3 Communication Systems acquired two copies.

Notable accidents

On 29 August 2001, Binter Mediterráneo Flight 8261 (Registration EC-FBC) crash-landed next to N-340, some 200 meters short of the runway 32 at Ruiz Picasso International Airport at Málaga, Spain. The pilot reported to Málaga Air Traffic Control, while on final approach, the aircraft's left engine had failed, and that he would have to perform an emergency landing. The plane descended hitting the first edge lights and stopping right next to the N-340. Subsequent investigation into the accident revealed that, shortly after the initial engine failure, the First Officer inadvertently shut down both of the aircraft's engines, leading to a total loss of power. Four out of the 44 people onboard were killed including the pilot Capt. Fdez. Ruano. The aircraft was scrapped.